Ahead of Chhath Puja Mahaparv in Bihar, Madhepura District Magistrate (DM) in an order issued to local police and administration had warned against attempts by ‘mischievous elements of Muslim community’ which may cause communal tension during the Chhath Puja celebrations.
The alert issued on 31st October 2019 stated that there have been incidents of communal tension on routes used by devotees which pass through Muslim-dominated colonies. “Some mischievous elements of Muslim community also harass and eve tease the women during Chhath Puja,” the letter said. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha expressed his objections over the letter.
This alert issued had upset people and the state home department had said they will look into the matter. As reported by Indian Express, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Amir Subhani said that the letter was inadvertently phrased. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey felt that the tone of the letter should have been changed.
Clarifying his position on the alert, DM Shukla said that the order was based on intelligence inputs and other districts would have also issued such orders. “We put the intelligence inputs the way it is. Our idea is to avoid breach of communal harmony. We cannot tone down the language. It is about issuing alerts to ensure that there is no law and order problem,” he added.
